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Author Topic:   Think bigger think better.
paullesq 
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Posts: 43
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Message 37 of 78 (506385)
04-25-2009 9:35 PM


Admin writes:
Paul, pardon my French, but are you semiliterate, brain damaged or retarded?
France explained to the world (and vice versa).
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Pardon my French
The other day, I was chatting with American friends. Someone was speaking about her boss, and at some point, as you can imagine, a bad word materialized in the middle of the conversation. For the record, it was 'bitch'.
And what came immediatly after this? Well, yes, you are right, and the title probably helped: "Pardon my French".
But then, some folks realized I was French, and started apologizing. They thought this was very offensive to associate French with bad words, and some even went as far as expressing their disapproval for that expression.
That was one of these moments when I am left dizzy thinking of the extent of the gap between our cultures.
The fact is that French does have a lot of slang, and that we are proud of it. It seems to me that we are one of the most active language on that front, and one hint is the rate at which French slang becomes obsolete. If you go to France, don't throw in some of the French slang words you know if you learned them some 20 years ago, because you will sparkle some heavy laughter and get severly taunted in the current French slang.
Now, their is a huge cultural gap between American and French people as to what slang means and is used for.
In a nutshell: for Americans, slang is used by people to sound either cool or offensive. Most slang words are sexual in nature. The cornerstone word here is obviously 'fuck': a English to slang English dictionary would read: car = fucking car, nose = fucking nose, foot = fucking foot, boxer short = fucking boxer fucking short.
For French folks, slang is just a set of alternative words for every day, casual conversations. They are used by mostly everybody (and notably by our dear president), and yes, even by my mother, and if you have to know, even by my mother's mother (although the 20 year rule I mentioned implies that I am left mostly blank when she curses). And although we certainly have slang words for all sexual topics, as I guess any other language in the world does, French has the particularity of having slang words for virtually anything else -- and these words would not necessarly have an offensive implication. Sometimes they even sound cute, or just funny. By contrast, then, a French to French argot dictionary would read: car = bagnole, caisse, nose = pif, tarbouif, foot = panard, peton, boxer short = calbute.
And as a disclaimer, I would stamp this slang with a 'circa 1990' label. As for wine, don't trust French slang without a date label.
Slang is definitely an important part of the French language. My mother, for instance, is a slang encyclopedia on her own. From early morning, when she gets out of the pieu, till the evening in front of the tloche, the day with her is a continuous and charming display of a French you won't find in your language book. Being a teacher, it has always been a mystery, and quite frankly, a source of concern for me how she could switch back to textbook French twice a week in front of her students. But then again, we don't have that much slang for chemistry.
Growing up in such a vocabulary-wise diverse environment, I naturally caught up most of the slang. And that's were the cultural gap is: if asked, my mother would tell you she is proud of me.
I could not speak about French slang without mentionning particular one, the verlan, which stands for () l'envers (meaning 'backwards') when read... backwards. Indeed, the rule of this particular kind of slang is to speak words backwards, syllable-wise. So, Franais (French) becomes Cfran, mchant ('mean', or 'cool') becomes chanm, lourd becomes relou, etc. Sometimes, verlan holds on words that are already slang words, like keum, which is the verlan of mec which is the slang for 'guy'. I even heard people talking about feumeu, which turned out to the verlan for meuf... which is already the verlan for femme (woman)!
And of course, slang comes with different regional flavors. Marseilles is known for having quite a few slang words of their own, for instance.
At this point, and since you are a regular reader, you are now thinking: "Hey! Slang being so extensive and popular, that's certainly something that should piss the Acadmiciens off!".
U-hu. Don't underestimate a bunch of old folks with nothing better to do than reading teenage girl magazines. Plus, remember that before being old, everybody has been young once. Believe it or not, slang is actually listed and updated in the distinguished encyclopedia they edit. I told you slang is part of our language.
Personnally, I grew up with a copy of the Bouquets des expressions images in the living room, a book entirely dedicated to wild slang words and expressions through the ages (yes, that's about 1400 pages of fine prints), which probably made me the slang poet I am now. (You will find it amusing that the author of this book taught English as a living. I am convinced he wrote this book because of the same sense of frustration with English slang, and the esteem of French slang that consequently arose, as the one I am experiencing now).
So next time you curse, don't apologize. And if a "Pardon my French" inadvertently slips between your lips, I will consider that as a tribute to our ingenuity and creativity in that domain.
posted by frenchdude
Snip..................
Strange turn of phrase you have there sir,thought the above might interest you.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 38 of 78 (506387)
04-25-2009 9:58 PM


Rrhain writes:
Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.
.........................................................
Out come the fruit cakes.
A firm foundation for a theory.
*The big bang a single beginning denotes a single process.
Bathe on the idea, wine and dine on it.
paul.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 41 of 78 (506429)
04-26-2009 8:28 AM


paullesq writes:
The big bang a single beginning denotes a single process.
oni writes:
Yes, but this is a laymen interpretation of the Big Bang. In science the Big Bang does not represent a "beginning", it is just the moment of the cosmological expansion, but prior to that moment, the "universe" existed in another form. So no actual "starting point" can be claimed at the Big Bang.
............................................................
Here is my layman interpretation of 'cause and effect' to go with my layman interpretation of the big bang.
The reason i choose to start the theory, hold the measuring tape at the point of the bb is held within.
Cause and effect.
Cause and effect is a universal means of measuring, like a tape measure.
The 'and' in cause and effect is = to a variable portion of time.
Why variable?
The amount of time is dependant on the where from and the where too measurement is being made.
Cause and effect is all around you.
In all things science looks for the 'cause' that goes on to produce the 'effect'.
Further reading: Wikipedia the philosophical concept of causality.
............................................................
The reason i start the theory with the big bang is one of clarity, the firm foundation. Speculation about what existed before is all good and well, colliding branes, universes growing like bunches of grapes and such like. But lets face it already i move ahead of the game, if i should move too far ahead then the theory might be written off as fantasy. Hopefully i pitch my ideas just within the goldilocks zone of thinking.
paul.

  
paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 42 of 78 (506440)
04-26-2009 9:20 AM


paullesq writes:
Context = coherence.
The process of primordial evolution by means of primal selection. Red
The process of biological evolution by means of natural selection.Blue
The process of human mental evolution by intelligent selection. Yellow
The colours can be seen blending together so as to paint a picture, or they can be viewed seperatly naked on the pallete.
Perferctly rational and yet no comments.mmmmm
Red shift, blue planet and yellow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USL2ka6ODYA
paul

  
paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 43 of 78 (506445)
04-26-2009 10:02 AM


oni writes:
So, what the fuck, french dude?
Im not french. The explanation of 'excuse my french' was copied and pasted from the web.
The last few lines struck a chord with me.
frenchdude writes:
So next time you curse, don't apologise. And if a "Pardon my French" inadvertently slips between your lips, I will consider that as a tribute to our ingenuity and creativity in that domain.
posted by frenchdude
Im dyslexic with a mild form of autism, the magnitude of what i attempt to convey effects me.
I do not think like the mainstream, i guess that qualifies me as a mutation.
paul.

  
paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 46 of 78 (506531)
04-27-2009 9:30 AM


Rrhain writes:
But the Big Bang is not the end-all/be-all of cosmology. After it ended, other processes took over.
*Every spontaneous outpouring of energy as witnessed in nature dissipates to stagnation.
The big bang has not ended, its initial ferocity has slowed allowing more subtle interactions to take place. These other processes as you put it did not just magically appear from nowhere. The potential for all of them [everything] stem, branched out from what i tend to think of as the most common of ancestors. The big bang was both primitive and complex all at the same time.
Rain writes:
You seem to be suggesting a return to a Newtonian visualisation of the universe where if we just knew the position and momentum of every single particle in the universe, we could then predict everything that would ever happen.
The Newtonian visualisation of the universe does seem to make perfect sense. That is given the 'exact' same circumstances that lead up to observed result, then the result [effect] will be exactly the same.
Rain writes:
Alas, quantum mechanics showed us that the universe doesn't work like that. Not only is it impossible to know the position and momentum of even one particle with sufficient accuracy (let alone all of the particles in the universe), but it is also the case that randomness affects its behaviour such that we cannot truly predict its behaviour in the future even if we could know the position and momentum.
Randomness exsists in chaotic systems yes, but then i belive that out of chaos always comes the selected result. Or. Randomness is an illusion created by the inability to factor in all circumstances
paullesq writes:
Bathe on the idea, wine and dine on it.
The three [4] types of selection i outline seperate this universe from a quantum universe.
paul.
Edited by Admin, : Fix quote.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 47 of 78 (506535)
04-27-2009 9:57 AM
Reply to: Message 46 by paullesq
04-27-2009 9:30 AM


Are you a spiritual person Rrhain?
You picture would indicate so much.
Without prejudice to material is how i attempt to see the universe and evolution.
If the question of God arises then i will treat the subject in exactly the same way. I will not be writing you any love songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CJp947uv24
paul.
paul.
Edited by paullesq, : No reason given.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 51 of 78 (506592)
04-27-2009 6:55 PM


lyx2no writes:
Song what song? There's a song? Try mixing up some hormones in the test tube and beaker your holding.
Do you think that the members of this forum are mature enough to allow me to express myself freely.
It is no big deal really is it, i mean nobody is forced to click on the link, you don't like a film clip, a song then you turn it off. Simple as. I have debated on quite a few forums in the past, these were closed recently when aol changed tack, i expressed myself openly, never, not once did the music/film detract from the debate.
paul.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 55 of 78 (507370)
05-04-2009 10:48 AM


Larni writes:
A mental wa*k is perfect example of what you are doing here; getting off on being obscure and mysterious.
Having a wan* poor boy, whatever happened to the good old notion of making love.
You did not like the sexual undertones of :
The regression of biological evolution back to the big bang and forth to gain the exploded view.
[Exploded view means that Everything evolves.]
..............................
Try this then.
For all intent and purposes you, science has drawn itself a hard line around what counts for, stands as 'evolution' as you understand it.
So.
Draw a blue circle and place everything you know about Darwinian evolution and biological evolution in to it.
You have the one type of selection, 'Natural' selection in your understanding of evolution.
You see, I got me another two types of evolution, that means an additional two types of selection.
Primal and intelligent... They do not fit with your understanding of evolution.
You will not let them enter the atom of your understanding.
If you did then you would see that everything evolves.
Again an exploded view.
paul.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 56 of 78 (507372)
05-04-2009 11:06 AM
Reply to: Message 55 by paullesq
05-04-2009 10:48 AM


A passing fancy.
No such thing as a selfish gene.
Group selection takes place outside of our biology in a different sphere of evolution.
Granted, intelligent selection stems from the brain but to assert that mankind's group selection takes place within our biology is the same as saying that the radio is the music.
paul.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 58 of 78 (507434)
05-05-2009 5:50 AM


Phage writes:
You should thoroughly define "Primal" and "Intelligent" evolution before attempting to discuss such things. It is very helpful if those attempting to respond are on the same page with what you are thinking. If, on the other hand, you don't have a good enough grasp of what those things are to adequately explain them you should consider that you may simply be spouting nonsense that only holds meaning to yourself.
Hello.
It is a train of thought i have, tracks for trains *statements for thinking. The statements are emphasised with the elevated star * symbol. The theory is built around this key statement.
*The big bang a single beginning denotes a single process.
Although there are alternatives to the single beginning single process concept, to follow the theory one must accept the most basic premise [key statement] as a possible truth.
There are two main questions that i ask myself and the theory has been constructed to answer both of them.
How is it that i came to exsist, and where does the potential for biological evolution come from.
The questions are my motive, and to answer them i attempt to place the process of biological evolution into context of its own evolution by using the Darwinian frame. Modification descent by means of selection.
New terms/ labels are difficult to accept so i keep this down to a minimum.
Hopefully this gives you some insight into my thinking. Do you understand me so far?
If you do then i will go on to explain the meaning of intelligent selection.

  
paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 59 of 78 (507436)
05-05-2009 6:26 AM


Larni writes:
Is English your third language?
Well, if that's the best you can do you're done here; I know I am.
Toodaloo, don't forget to write.
paul.

  
paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 60 of 78 (507440)
05-05-2009 6:41 AM


liketoknow writes:
I'm 14 there's only so much I can do. Please, how does one think bigger and better?
Ask yourself the biggest questions, take a bath have a soak and try to visualise the answer to the questions.
paul.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hQMPclXx_Q

  
paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 62 of 78 (507470)
05-05-2009 11:43 AM


chatholicscientist writes:
No. He clearly does not have the communication skills necessary to adequately deliver his idea for a forum such as this one.
Another crank that will eventually disappear.
Commnication skills, hark you.
You post you reply to a third party, i am here ask away.
paul.

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paullesq 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5441 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-06-2009


Message 64 of 78 (507499)
05-05-2009 4:17 PM


Hello Catholic scientist.
CatholicScientist writes:
But from reading the thread I can see that you are either unable or unwilling to communicate your ideas in a way that they can be criticized effectively, so why would I even bother?
You'd rather dance around in obscurity and feal like you're on to something *really big*.
It turns out that your just another crank, though.
Here is my reply to phage, he has not responded, feel free to read think about what is written and make a reply.
paullesq writes:
Hello.
It is a train of thought i have, tracks for trains *statements for thinking. The statements are emphasised with the elevated star * symbol. The theory is built around this key statement.
*The big bang a single beginning denotes a single process.
Although there are alternatives to the single beginning single process concept, to follow the theory one must accept the most basic premise [key statement] as a possible truth.
There are two main questions that i ask myself and the theory has been constructed to answer both of them.
How is it that i came to exsist, and where does the potential for biological evolution come from.
The questions are my motive, and to answer them i attempt to place the process of biological evolution into context of its own evolution by using the Darwinian frame. Modification descent by means of selection.
New terms/ labels are difficult to accept so i keep this down to a minimum.
Hopefully this gives you some insight into my thinking. Do you understand me so far?
If you do then I will go on to explain the meaning of intelligent selection.
Look i even left you a question mark.
I'm a crank, my, thank you.
Key word. Think.
paul.

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